Precast shell coping and method of construction for swimming pools



Aug. 17, 1965 M. H. GILLESPIE, JR 3,200,

PRECAST SHELL COPING AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION FOR SWIMMING POOLS Filed May 9, 1963 INVENTOR Jmemw 9 MERLE H. GILLESP/E,JR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,200,548 PRECAST SHELL COPING AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION FOR SWIMMING POOLS Merle H. Gillespie, 'Jr., 908 Parker Ave.,

. Falls Church, Va. Filed May 9, 1963, Ser. No. 279,088 1 Claim. (Cl. 52-300) This invention relates to swimming pools and the like and more particularly, to a combined tile coping and precast concrete shell structure therefor, and a new and novel method for fabricating the concrete decking surrounding the edge of the pool.

In the past, concrete pool structures from the bottom and sides of the pool proper to the coping and surrounding decking must be constructed by erecting pouring forms or molds and subsequently pouring concrete into the moulds to complete the fabrication process. This method of construction is expensive and slow. Additionally, in order to provide a more finished appearance, prior methods required facing the coping of the pool with tile or the like. This latter process is also expensive and slow.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a prefabricated construction component and a method of constructing swimming pools utilizing the said component, whereby, the use of concrete molds is eliminated from a portion of the construction process.

Another object of this invention to provide a prefabricated construction component and a method of constructing swimming pools utilizing the said component, whereby, the use of concrete molds is eliminated from a portion of the construction process and further whereby, the tile face on the coping of the pool may be prefabricated.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a precast, reinforced shell structure for swimming pools having an integrally bonded tile face thereon, the said shell comprising both a permanent part of the swimming pool coping structure and comprising, additionally, a pouring mold for the concrete decking surrounding the said coping.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent with reference to the following specification and drawings which relate to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 incorporated in a swimming pool structure structure of the invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the structure of FIGURE 1 incorporated in a swimming pool structure which is shown in partial cross section.

Referring in detail to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURE 1,. the precast shell portion of the structural component of this invention is shown as comprising an elongated concrete body portion having squared side and end surfaces 12, a fiat bottom surface (not shown) and a concavely curved upper surface 14 having a high end 16 and a low end 18; a reinforcing mesh 20 embedded in the concrete body portion 10 having upstanding end portions 22 and 24 adjacent the said high and low ends 16 and 18, respectively, of the concave surface 14; and a facing tile 26 integrally bonded to the end face 12 of the body portion 10 which is adjacent the high side 18 of the concave upper surface 14. The tile 26 is disposed such that the lower edge 28 thereof is flush with the lower edge 30 of the body portion 10.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, the body portion 10 of the precast shell coping is shown positioned in overhanging relationship on the top of a poured or precast concrete pool side 32 by means of a mortar joint or the like generally indicated at 34.

The overhang of the shell body 10 and the tile 26 is ice within the confines of the pool sides 32 and thus, forms part of the tile coping for the pool. The overhang of the body portion 10 at the low end 18 of the concave upper surface 14 is disposed over back fill material 36 over which a concrete deck 38 is to be poured.

As shown in both FIGURES 1 and 2, the facing tile 26 has its upper edge 40 positioned well above the highest portion of the high end 16 of the concave upper surface 14.

If now, a plurality of the precast shell coping units of the present invention are positioned side by side about the entire periphery of the top of the pool sides 32, the back face 42 of the tiles 26 and the concave upper surfaces 14 of the body portions 10 of the units form mold sides or pouring forms for the purpose of retainab-ly receiving concrete poured therein to form the concrete decking 38.

Once in place, the concrete decking 38 completely envelopes the upstanding portions 22 and 24 of the reinforcing mesh 20, whereby the precast coping is securely bonded to the concrete decking 38.

Thus, if desired, to save both time and expense, the point 34 in FIGURE 2 between the lower face of the body portion 10 and the top of the pool side 32 need not be mortar but need only be secure enough to prevent the precast units from being displaced while the concrete decking 38 is being poured. The midportion of the mesh 20 is substantially parallel with the lower surface of the body portion 10.

The method of the present invention for constructing the tile coping and surrounding concrete decking for swimming pools and the like comprises the steps of placing a plurality of the precast shell coping units in side-byside juxtaposition across the top of the upper periphery of the pool sides 32 to form the pool coping via the integral facing tiles 26 on each of the said units and subsequently pouring a concrete aggregate or the like about the outer periphery of the swimming pool structure to a level flush with the upper edges 40 of the facing tiles 26 whereby the body portion 10 of said precast shell coping units are submerged in the concrete aggregate and the said coping units will be positively retained in place upon setting of the concrete aggregate by means of the upstanding portions 22 and 24 of the reinforcing mesh 20 which are embedded in said aggregate.

As can be seen from the foregoing specification and drawings, this invention provides a new and novel article and method of construction for swimming pools and the like which results in a cheaper and more expedient structure than those presently available without any sacrifice in the quality thereof.

It is to be understood that the embodiment shown and described herein is for the purpose of example only and is not intended to limit the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An integral deck and coping structure for a pool having a vertically arranged side wall comprising a plurality of precast shell coping units horizontally arranged in side-byside juxtaposition about the top periphery of said wall, each of said coping units comprising an elongated precast body portion and a facing means on one end thereof, said facing means extending coextensively from the bottom edge of said body portion to an upper edge above the top surface of said body portion, said facing means extending into the confines of said pool, whereby said facing means form a continuous retaining means, said body portion comprising a generally rectangular block having a point of maximum thickness adjacent said facing means at one end thereof and extending downwardly along the upper surface thereof from said point of maximum thickness to a point of minimum thickness at the other end thereof, and said body portion further including reinforcing means embedded therein and substantially longitudinally coex- 3 a 4 7 a tensive therewith, said reinforcing means including up- 1,829,156 10/31 Reel 50-366 standing'end portions located one adjacent eachend of 1,890,432 12/32 Billner '50--366 said body portion and extending above said supper surface, 1,891,513 12/ 32 Venzie 50-366 and a poured self-setting aggregate deck means covering 1,963,405 6/ 34 Ei'chelrnan et a1 50-153 said body portions and reinforcing means to a level flush 2,054,679 9/36 Nelson 50-345 with the upper edges of said facing means. 2,729,093 1/56 Ridley 50--100 References Cited by the Examiner FRANK L ABBOTT, Primary Emmi-"en UNITED STATES PATENTS HENRY c. SUTHERLAND, Examiner. 987,542 3/11 'Booraem V 4172 10 7 V 

